Buckle



F. H. LA PIERRE.

BUCKLE.

(No Model.)

Patented July 5, 1892.

- Winesses:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. LA PIERRE, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

.BUCKLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 478,28 5, dated July 5,1892.

Application filed April 6, 1892. Serial No. 428.060. (No model.) h

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. LA PIERRE,

, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the countyof Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to buckles for belts, garters, and thelike; and theinvention consists in the novel construction of the same,as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Figure 1 is a transverse horizontal section showing the position of theparts when in use. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the tongue or clampopened for adjustment. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the buckle withthe tongue raised, and Fig. 4 is asectional view showing the parts madewholly of sheet metal.

The object of this invention is to produce an ornamental buckle for use'on belts, garters, and the like, and which, while so constructed as tohold the-belt or garter secure against slipping or getting loose andpermit of ready adjustment, shall at the same time have no prongs ortongues, which puncture the belt or material to which the buckle may beapplied.

To construct a buckle on my plan, I first. pro- Vide a frame A of anydesired external form and preferably made fiat on its front and rearfaces, slightly curved transversely, as shown, and having a centralopening rectangular in outline. On the under or rear face of this frame,near one edge of the opening, Isecure a bar d, Fig. 3, by means of shortarms at each end, bent at right angles to the body of the bar, as shownmore clearly in Fig. 2, so that said bar (1 is made to stand out alittle from the rear face of the frame A. I then provide a plate B of alength corresponding to the central opening, but somewhat narrower thanthe opening, so that when set therein a small'space will be left betweenits edges and those of the frame, as shown in Fig. 1, and through whichthe belt or ribbon will show when the buckle is closed, though thesespaces are not absolutely essential, it only being necessary that therebe sufficient space to permit the plate B, which is pivoted on the backor under side of the frame, to swing outward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.I prefer, however, to have the spaces at opposite sides of the plate, asby a rectangular frame a little wider than the plate B, as shown in theseveral figures, it projecting a little beyond the front edge of theplate and leaving sufficient space to permit the belt or ribbon to bepassed through and folded around the bar 0, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.At the opposite side the plate B is hinged to back side of the frame Aby pintles 0 at each end, which fit into eyeseon the back of the frame,as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the bar or wire 0 extending from one eye tothe otheracross and a little way from the rear edge of the plate B, thesame as at the front edge, so thatthe opposite end of the belt or ribboncan be secured thereto, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Care is taken to make the offset in the bar cljust sufficient to bringthe outer faces of the'plate B and frame A in line when the plate isshut down, in which case its front loop 0 will rest upon the bar d or onthe interposed ribbon R, as shown in Fig. 1.

The manner of applying and using this buckle is as follows: One end ofthe belt or ribbon R is passed around the rear or righthand bar 0 andsewed or pinned fast. The opposite end 6 is then passed around the frontbar 0 and thence underthe bar d and between it and the uncut portion ofthe belt or ribbon R, as shown in the several figures, when the plate isshut down, as shown in Fig. 1. The result of this arrangement is thatthe loose end '1 is doubled around the bar 0, then back around the bar(1, and is finally clamped between the body of the belt R and the bar D,

so that the greater the tension or strain on the bolt the tighter theloose end is clamped. When it is desired to tighten the belt, it is onlynecessary to take hold of the loose end t and pull on it, at the sametime raising the plate B slightly, and to release it the plate is raiseda little and the pull made on the main portion of the belt, theraisingof-the plate in all cases tending to loosen orrelease the hold orclamping effect,-which the bars 0 (Z have on the belt or ribbon.

It is obvious that instead of using a wire to form the offset or bar (Ithe same -may be formed by leaving a surplus width of metal on theinner'edge of the frame at that side in the form of a lip, which maythen be bent inward and then backward, as shown in Fig. 4, it answeringthe same purpose in all respects. So, too, it is obvious that instead offastening the wire 0 to the plate B to form bars for the attachment ofthe belt at its opposite sides the same result will be accomplished bymaking the plate B enough widerto have its edges bent down to form lipsat right angles to its body, there being a slot punched or otherwiseformed in each lip for the reception of the belt or ribbon, suchconstruction being also shown in Fig. 4. It is merely a matter of choicefor the manufacturer as to which is the cheaper planto use the wire andsolder it fast or to punch and bend the metal of the plate and frame.WVhen made heavy of solid silver or gold, it may be more convenient touse the wire; but when made of thinner plate or sheet metal the bendingand punching will be preferred.

The face of the buckle may be ornamented by engraving orotherwiseforming ornamental figures thereon, or by enameling portions, or byinserting jewels or other ornaments, as may be desired. By thisconstruction I am enabled to produce a buckle that can be made highlyornamental, one that will hold the belt or other article to which it isapplied securely, that can be easily and quickly adjusted and that doesnot puncture or injure the belt or ribbon, thus forming an article thatis espe cially adapted for ladies use.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is- 1. Theherein-described buckle, consisting of a frame A, having a centralopening, with an ofiset bar orlip along one side of said opening, with aplate B, hinged to the frame at the opposite side of said opening andhaving a bar or slot at both its front and rear edges for attaching thebelt or ribbon,substantially as shown and described.

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a buckle consisting of a frameA, having a central opening, with an oifset along one side of saidopening, and a plate B, hinged to the rear side of the frame at one sideof the-opening and provided at its edges with a slotor opening for thereception of the belt or ribbon, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK I-I. LA PIERRE. \Vitn esses:

TIMOTHY KIELY, MORRIS E. STERNE.

